Means to restrain lateral movement of lading within a railway box car



United States Patent 1 1 3,550,538

1 Inventors Wallace Geyer 2,988,019 6/1961 Stough 105/369 D P 2,988,020 6/1961 Stough 105/369 Robert W. Randolph, St. Charles, Mo. 3,384,034 5/1968 Loomis et a1. 105/376 [21] Appl. N 7488362 3,464,369 9/1969 Erickson et a1. 105/376 [22] F1Ied July 29,1968 I [45] Patented Dem 29, 1970 Primary Exammer-Drayton E1 Hoffman [73] Assignee ACF Industries, Incorporated Anomey Eugene Rlddle New York, N.Y. a corporation of New Jersey ABSTRACT: A railway box car having a bulkhead mounted in MEANS To RESTRAIN LATERAL MOVEMENT 0F guideways or tracks for movement longitudinally of the rail- LADl WITH N A RMLWAY BOX CAR way car and adapted to fit against lading carried by the railway 7 C 17 Dr g g car. Means are provided to preload the bulkhead against the 52 us. c1 105/376, ladlng will a predetermined The Plelwdlng means 105 369 clude manual drive means for moving the bulkhead and as- 51] no.0. B61d 4 5/00 Socialed tracks longitudinally the Cal against the bias 150 Field ofSearch 105/3698, resilient means thereby Preloadll1e resilient means 376 such relative longitudinal movement. Mleans connect the bulkhead to the tracks to transfer forces resulting from the prel56l References cued loading of the resilient means thereby to urge the bulkhead NI STATES PATENTS against the lading to restrain the lading against lateral move- 2,977, 899 4/1961 Doherty et al. 105/369 ment within the box car.

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MEANS TO RESTRAIN LATERAL MOVEMENT OF LADING WITHIN A RAILWAY BOX CAR BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I-Ieretofore, various arrangements have been provided to protect lading against lateral movement or shifting within a railway box car. For example, side fillers have been provided to fit against the sides of the lading to prevent such lateral movement. Such side fillers are costly, difficult to install, and require space in which to be mounted. In addition to possible damage to the lading upon lateral movement, the lading sometimes shifts against theside doors of a box car which makes the opening of the side doors difficult.

The present invention is directed particularly to an arrangement to restrain and minimize any lateral movement or shifting of lading within a box car and comprise a preloaded bulkhead urged against the Iading to restrain the lading against any lateral movement. Such an arrangement eliminates the necessity for side fillers or the like. The bulkhead is mounted in a pair of tracks on the top and bottom of the box car for movement along the tracks longitudinally of the car. The tracks are mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the floor of the car against the bias of resilient means connected between the tracks and car body. Manually actuated drive means are operatively connected to the tracks to preload the resilient means and the bulkhead after the bulkhead initially contacts the lading, and means connect the bulkhead to the tracks to transfer forces resulting from the preloading of the resilient means and associated tracks to the bulkhead whereby the bulkhead is urged by the preloaded tracks against said lading to restrain the lading against lateral movement within the box car. More particularly, the resilient means include a plurality of elastomeric shear members connected between the tracks and railway car body to permit movement of the tracks relative to the car body upon a deflection in shear of the elastomeric members.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompany drawings, in which one of various possible embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a top plan, partly diagrammatic, of a railway box car with the roof broken away and illustrating bulkheads mounted within a railway box car and urged against lading to restrain the lading against lateral movement;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the car illustrated in FIG. 1 with a side broken away and illustrating the bulkheads before the bulkheads are preloaded;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the bulkheads after bulkheads have been preloaded against the lading with the resilient members being deflected in shear;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken generally along line 4-of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 4 illustrating the area designated generally byline 7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but illustrating the gear mechanism to obtain a high mechanical advantage for preloading the bulkhead against the lading;

FIG. 9 is a section taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 and illustrating the bulkhead mounted within a lower track in a locked condition; 5

FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the resilient shear member between the track and floor of the railway car;

FIG. 11 is a top plan, large diagrammatic, illustrating resilient shear members in unloaded position beneath a track;

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11 but illustrates the shear members in a preloaded position with one side of the shear members deflecting in shear relative to an opposite side;

FIG. 13 is a view looking generally along line 13-13 of FIG. 7 and illustrating the holding pawls for maintaining the bulkhead urged against the lading;

FIG. 14 is a section taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 7 illustrating the gear mechanism for moving the bulkhead along the tracks;

FIG. 15 is a section taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 7 illustrating releasable manual means for securing the bulk head to the tracks for preloading of the elastomeric members within the releasable means in a position to secure the bulkhead to the tracks;

FIG. 16 is a section similar to FIG. 15 but illustrating the releasable manual means in a released position to permit movement of the bulkhead along the tracks; and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 4 illustrating the bulkhead tracks adjacent the roof of the railway box car.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention and more particularly to FIG. l4, a railway box car is illustrated generally at 10 and includes sidewalls 12 and end walls 14. Door openings 15 are provided in sidewalls 12. A suitable roof shown at 16 in FIG. 4 extends between sidewalls 12 and end walls 14.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a sliding center sill is generally designated 18 and fixed center sill members are designated 20. Stringers 22 extend longitudinally of car 10 and a side sill 24 extends along each side of car 10. A suppon plate 26 is secured to a pair of stringers 22 on each side of center sill 18. A wooden floor generally indicated 27 is mounted over stringers 22 and includes wooden planks 28 as shown in FIG. 5 and 9. A side plate generally designated 30 extends along each upper side of railway car 10. Extending inwardly from each side plate 30 is an upper angle-shaped support 32.

Mounted within railway box car 10 are bulkheads generally indicated 34 and 35. Bulkheads 34 and 35 are generally similar and only bulkhead is described in detail. Bulkhead 34 includes spaced opposed faces 36 connected by suitable connecting means. Carried by bulkhead 34 and mounted between spaced faces 36 thereof are an upper shaft 38, a lower shaft 40 and an intermediate shaft 42. Pinions 44 are secured to the ends of upper shaft 38 and pinions 46 are secured to the lower shaft 40. To rotate shafts 38 and 40, respective spur gears 48 and 50 are secured thereto. Countershafts 52 and 54 have spur gears 55 connected by chain drives 56 and 58 to respective gears 48 and 50. To drive coun'tershafts 52 and 54 for moving bulkhead 34, a ratchet lever 60 is secured to a drive shaft 62 having a drive gear 64 in mesh with a spur gear 66 secured to countershaft 52. Countershaft 54 is driven by meshing spur gears 68 and 70. In the position shown in FIG. 7 with drive gear 64 in mesh with spur gear 66, a mechanical ratio of around one to one is obtained. If desired to obtain a mechanical advantage of four to one as employed for preloading of bulkhead 34 as will be explained, drive shaft 62 which is of a square cross section is mounted. within bearings 72 for relative longitudinal movement and may be moved axially to the position of FIG. 8 in which a stop 74 on shaft 62 abuts ad- 60 jacent bearing 72. In this position, a small diameter drive gear 76 on shaft 62 engages gear 78 on counter shaft 52 for driving shaft 52.

Referring to FIG. 13, a ratchet gear 80 is shown secured to bulkhead 34 with holding pawls 82, 84 positioned adjacent ratchet gear 80. Square shaft 62 may be moved axially of gear 80.

To lock shafts 38 and 48 against rotation, respective plunger type locks 86 and 88 as shown particularly in FIG. 4, 6, 9, 1.0 and 17 are adapted to engage teeth on gears 44 and 46. Springs 90 are compressed between suitable abutments 92 and locks 86, 88 to urge locks 86, 88 into engagement with respective gears 44 and 46. To actuate locks 86, 88 respective rods 94 and 96 are pivoted thereto. Intermediate shaft 42 has arms 98 and 100 pivoted to respective rods 94, 96 for actuation of locks 86, 88 upon rotation of shaft 42. To rotate shaft 42 and referring to FIGS. 7, 15 and 16, a control lever 102 is secured thereto and has a manual pull arm 104 pivotally mounted at 106 to lever 102. Arm 104 projects from an opening 107 in the adjacent bulkhead face 36. A detent 108 mounted on adjacent face 36 is adapted to engage a lug 110 on arm 104 as shown in FIG. 16 to hold locks 86, 88 in disengage position with respect to gears 44 and 46. If desired to engage gears 44 and 46, arm 104 may be released from the posi' tion of FIG. 16 and springs 90 will urge shaft 42 to the position of FIG. 15 and a notch 114 may engage detent 108.

To preload bulkheads 34 and 35 for continuously urging the bulkheads against the lading, such as paperboard boxes or the like and generally designated L, a separate pair of lower tracks or guideways are provided in floor 27 and a pair of upper tracks or guideways are provided adjacent side plates 30 for each bulkhead. The upper tracks are generally similar to the lower tracks and function in the same manner.

FIG. 11 illustrates a pair of lower tracks generally designated 116 for bulkhead 34 and a pair of lower tracks generally designated 118 for bulkhead 35. Each track 116, 118 is generally similar and comprises an upper angle-shaped member 120 and a lower angleshaped member 122. Upper member 120 has a plurality of equally spaced slots 124 therein to receive the teeth of associated gears 46. Secured to the vertical legs of angle-shaped members 120 and 122 are a plurality of elastomeric shear member generally designated 126 and spaced along the length of tracks 116, 118. Lower angleshaped member 122 is secured to lower support plate 26 while upper angle-shaped member 120 is free to move longitudinally relative to lower member 122. Elastomeric shear member 126 includes metal side plates bonded to rubber and secured to the adjacent vertical legs of upper member 120 and lower member 122.

Referring to FIG. 17 and illustrating upper tracks 116A and 118A, gear 44 for bulkhead 34 is shown in engagement with track 116A. Bulkhead 35 engages track 118A. Angle-shaped member 122A is secured to upper support plate 32 and angleshaped member 120A engages gear 44. Shear members 126A are secured between the vertical legs of members 120A and 122A and member 120A may move longitudinally relative to member 122A.

In operation, for loading railway box car with lading, arms 104 are moved to the position shown in FIG. 16 with locks 86 and 88 in released position. Bulkheads 34 and 35 are then moved along tracks 116, 116A, 118, 118A to a position clearing door openings 15. Lading is then positioned within one end of car 10, such as the right hand side as viewed in FIGS. 1-3, and the associated bulkhead 34 is moved manually against the lading by rotation of drive shaft 62 from the position shown in FIG. 7.

Next, shaft 62 is moved axially to the position of FIG. 8 with gear 76 in drive relation to gear 78 to obtain a desired mechanical advantage. Upon further rotation of shaft 62 by ratchet handle 60 angle-shaped track members 120, 120A move longitudinally relative to fixed track members 122, 122A and elastomeric members 126, 126A deflect in shear as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12 as much as six to eight inches. Then, arms 104 are manually'released and move to the position of FIG. with springs 90 urging locks 44, 46 into locked engagement with the associated tracks 116, 116A. The preloading of elastomeric members 126, 126A is transmitted by pinions 44 and 46 to the associated bulkhead 34 to preload bulkhead 34 and continuously urge the bulkheads against the lading. Such a preloading of bulkhead 34 minimizes any lateral shifting of the lading. After lading has been positioned the preloading is released by rotation of shaft 62 for the associated bulkhead 34, or 35. In this position, bulkheads 34, 35 may be moved longitudinally to permit unloading of the ladmg.

The preloading of bulkheads 34, 35 against the lading with a predetermined force dependent on the deflection of the elastomeric members 126 minimizes any lateral movement or shifting of the lading as the force is continuously applied and increases with an increase in the total deflection in the elastomeric members 126 obtained from rotation of drive shaft 62. It is to be understood that other means could be adapted for preloading of bulkheads 34. 35 and only one arrangement has been illustrated for such preloading.

We claim:

1. In a railway boxcar having opposed generally horizontal upper and lower sides connected by opposed generally verti cal sides and adapted to carry lading therein, a pair of longitudinally extending tracks in each of a pair of opposed sides, a generally vertically extending bulkhead mounted on said tracks for longitudinal movement along the length of the car and adapted to fit against the lading, resilient means connected between said tracks and the associated sides to permit a longitudinal movement of the tracks relative to the sides, means operatively connected to said tracks for moving said tracks longitudinally of the sides, and means connecting said bulkhead to said tracks to transfer forces to said bulkhead resulting from the preloading of the resilient means and associated tracks for urging the bulkhead into contact with the lading; and including the following steps: first moving the bulkhead to a position adjacent the lading, then moving the tracks longitudinally of the sides to preload said resilient means in a direction longitudinally of the car to urge the bulkhead into contact with the adjacent lading, and releasably securing the bulkhead to the preloaded tracks to maintain the bulkhead in preloaded condition against the lading whereby the lading is restrained against lateral movement within the box car.

2. In a railway box car for carrying lading, opposed generally horizontal upper and lower sides connected by opposed generally vertical sides, a pair of longitudinally extending tracks in each of said upper and lower sides, a generally vertically extending bulkhead mounted in said tracks for longitudinal movement along the length of the car and adapted to fit against the lading, a plurality of elastomeric shear members connected between each of said tracks and the associated sides to permit a longitudinal movement of the tracks relative to the sides upon a deflection in shear of the elastomeric members, means operatively connected to said tracks for moving said tracks longitudinally of the sides, and means connecting said bulkhead to said tracks to transfer the forces to said bulkhead resulting from the deflection of said elastomeric members for urging the bulkhead into contact with the lading; and including the following steps: first moving the bulkhead to a position adjacent the lading, moving the tracks longitudinally of the associated sides to deflect the elastomeric shear members in shear in a direction longitudinally of the car, and releasably securing the bulkhead to the preloaded tracks to maintain the bulkhead in a preloaded condition against the lading whereby the lading is restrained against lateral movement within the box car.

3. In a railway box car for carrying lading, opposed generally horizontal upper and lower sides connected by opposed generally vertical sides, a pair of longitudinally extending tracks in each of a pair of opposed sides, a generally vertically extending bulkhead mounted in said tracks for longitumeans after the initial contact'of the bulkhead with the lading moving said tracks longitudinally of the car and deflecting the elastomeric shear members in shear in a direction longitudinally of the car, and means to transfer the forces to the bulkhead resulting from the deflection of said elastomeric members for urging the bulkhead into contact with the lading; and including the following steps: first moving the bulkhead to a position adjacent the lading, moving the tracks longitudinally of the associated sides to deflect the elastomeric shear members in shear in a direction longitudinally of the car, and releasably securing the bulkhead to the preloaded tracks to maintain the bulkhead in a preloaded condition against the lading whereby the lading is restrained against lateral movement within the box car;

4. in a railway box car as set forth in claim 3, said manual drive means including a gear mechanism and means to selectively actuate said gear mechanism for obtaining different mechanical ratios.

5. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 3, said drive means including pinions engaging the tracks, and means to releasably lock the pinions to the tracks to prevent relative movement after the bulkhead has been preloaded.

6. In a railway box car as set forth in claim 5, said means to releasably lock the pinions being mounted on said bulkhead and being manually actuated.

7. In a railway box car having a side door opening, an upper wall, and a lower wall; a pair of spaced tracks extending longitudinally from one end of the box car along the upper and lower walls at least to the side door opening. a separate pair of spaced tracks extending longitudinally from the opposite end of the box car along the upper and lower walls at least to the side door opening, a generally vertically extending bulkhead in each of said pairs of tracks, a plurality elastomeric shear members operatively connected between said pairs of tracks and the associated walls to permit a longitudinal movement of the tracks relative to the walls, means operatively connected to each pair of said tracks for moving said tracks longitudinally of the walls to preload said elastomeric shear members in a direction longitudinally of the car for urging the tracks in a direction opposite their direction of travel, and means releasably securing said bulkheads to said tracks after the tracks have been preloaded to transfer forces resulting from the preloading of the elastomeric shear members and associated tracks to said bulkheads for urging the bulkhead into contact with the lading; and comprising the following steps: first moving the bulkheads to a position adjacent the lading, then moving the tracks longitudinally of the associated walls to preload said shear members in a direction longitudinally of the car to urge the bulkheads into contact with the adjacent lading, and releasably securing the bulkheads to the associated preloaded tracks to maintain the bulkheads in preloaded condition against the lading whereby the lading is restrained against lateral movement within the box car. 

